30^th November

“Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, He told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!””

John 2:15-16

Soon after the wedding in Cana, after Jesus had turned water into wine, Jesus headed toward Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. As He entered the temple, His heart was filled with anger towards what faced Him: He saw scheming and conniving people trying to profit from the large crowds that had gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover; Money exchangers ripping off foreigners by most probably charging a ridiculous handling fee to change their own currency into money fit for the temple offering; Cattle and sheep probably being sold at extortionate prices for monetary gain; Holiness for God’s house non-existent.

Jesus was filled with anger and made a whip to drive out the defilers of His Father’s house. Jesus didn’t just want to give a lecture about what wrong with the situation. He got mad and wanted to drive them all out. He wanted purity and holiness in His Father’s house.

Sometimes we overlook this story and don’t see the personal reflection and application for our own lives. Jesus was angry because people abused and mocked His Father’s house. If we believe that Jesus lives in us and our bodies are the temple of God, then what do we think Jesus feels about our temple? This is not to say that Jesus will make a whip to beat the sin out of us when we stumble. But it does mean that God doesn’t tolerate sinful, disrespectful and God neglecting lifestyles. He wants our lives to be a reflection of Him in purity and holiness. If they’re areas of your life that are not that, then reach out to our loving, gracious Father and ask Him to help you deal with it. God’s grace is sufficient in our weakness. God is love and that is why He wants to make us holy!